THE ISSUE: Sen. Chuck Schumer’s new book and its criticism of the Democratic Party.

Sen. Chuck Schumer is right: The Democratic Party has abandoned the middle class for the sake of special-interest groups (“Schumer: A Party Pooper,” Jan. 20).

And which are these special-interest groups that work against middle-class interests? They certainly must include the abortion industry, homosexual activists, radical environmentalists, the teachers unions, Hollywood and, of course, the blame-America-first crowd.

If Schumer wants the Democrats to truly represent the middle class, he must break the stranglehold these odious groups have on his party.Peter SkurkissStow, Ohio

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All of a sudden Schumer discovers a penchant to aid America’s middle class?

He is already thinking of the 2008 presidential election, which is his purpose in writing his book.

With all of these hallucinations of pies in the sky, why didn’t the Democratic Party schemers present these dreams years ago?

Let’s pick 100 names out of a hat and allow those people to run the Senate.

Maybe legitimate matters of concern will then be brought to task.Richard Homer BuccoBloomfield, N.J.